Can someone tell me what happens or suppose to happen to a person's military records after he/she is discharged? I thought they would end up in St. Louis Personnel Records Center. If the VA needs info they would request copies from St. Louis. Well, I had requested copies of my records from St. Louis, and they can not locate them. So, how can the VA make any type of judgement if my records are not available?

Some years back, I had obtained some of my medical records, but thought I had lost them in the 2002 flood here in San Antonio. Well, when I wasn't looking for them, their they were. Now, the VA said that I wasn't service connected for my lower back because their is nothing in my records for any type of back injury. Took me 10 seconds to locate it in my files. Va said there was no indication of Diebetes in my personal medical records, but as plain as day, there is a statement from my doctor saying that I was diabetic and AO was most likely the cause or contributor. Well I guess the bottom line is that the VA looks at squat. I guess this is just another way for them to fustrate you so you will quit. Never Again.


Papa

Yep, they love making up stuff just to see if you catch it. Many times this works out to the VA's benefit so I guess that's why they do it. They said they can't locate mine either and then I found a note in my C-file that my regional office lost them. If you haven't got a copy of your C-file get it. You will be dissapointed on what you find.

frank

The VA does not get copies of the record, they get the record. Have you requested a copy of the C-file from the VA to see what infomation is contained in your record. When you received your VCAA notice they asked you if you had a copy of your medical records. If the VA don't have a copy of your medical records they should have sent you notice that they could not be located.

OOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSS --
I forgot to say today............

VBA Sucks.
carlie

The NPRC admits to lending my records out to the VA. I went to the VA in 72, and then back into the army in 74. I returned to the VA last year and was told that they had no record of me. I filed for a C&P exam while there last year. My military records could not be located. They can not locate, because the government never looses anything all of my military health and dental records. and we all know that your word isn't worst the spit it takes to form them. I got caught in the majic circle of BS. I called the regional office of the VA, to be sent to a call center, who would call them for me. The regional office called the hospital and they called me for a privacy act form so that they could sent me my "records" which are from Dec 2007 to present. I already have a copy but they could not understand that and are sending me the form anyway. So, ladies and gents any ideas. I am also involved a tort action over denial of dental care so the DAV can't or won't help until that issue is over.What good are they to me when I need help they can't help.

My most positive thoughts are with you, Top...I read all your posts, and can appreciate what you are going through. I have several questions, if you don't mind. You said that you have a lawsuit against the VA,. Do you have an attorney?? Can the lawyer help you with the VA dental mess, also? I agree with you when you say that you want to keep as many teeth as possible. What kind of cancer do you have? have you had a PET scan recently? Did it damage your taste buds or thyroid? Were you in Vietnam? Does your 30% SC include PTSD? Did you file a claim? Have you received a "Letter of Denial"? Have you filed a notice of disagreement yet? As you may know, you have one year to file the NOD after you received the denial letter. If the DAV will not file the NOD then you do it yourself. Just date, and sign a letter to the VARO, stating that you disagree with their denial letter dated- - -. Please accept this a my notice of disagreement. Please send me a statement of the case. Yours truly, - - - - - - . Tort or no tort, you must send the letter of disagreement. I would go down to the VARO and have them hand time stamp it, in front of you. Or mail it certified, return receipt requested.

Papa...To directly answer your question, it depends on when you were discharged. If you go to the NPRC website, you can see the exact dates, but beginning in the early 90's the Army began transferring SMRs directly to the VA instead of the NPRC. The remaining services followed suit, the the Coast Guard being the last service to send SMRs to the VA. I think personnel records move to the VA as well, can't remember but it's on the website. What does go to the NPRC is inpatient treatment records and some clinical notes. For those, you'll need to go directly to NPRC and specify the hospitals involved and approximate dates.

For those of us discharged before the change in disposition of medical records, if you filed a claim with the VA, the VARO requested your records from NPRC. Either way, the VA ended up with your records.

Hope this helps...